Year: 2006
Type: article
Abstract: Using mid-IR and optical data, we deduce the total infrared (IR) luminosities of galaxies in the Coma Cluster and present their IR luminosity function (LF). The shape of the overall Coma IR LF does not show significant differences from the IR LFs of the general field, which indicates the general independence of global galaxy star formation from environment up to densities ~40 times greater than in the field (we cannot test such independence above L IR ≈ 10 44 ergs s -1 ). However, a shallower faint-end slope and a smaller L are found in the core region (where the densities are still higher) compared to the outskirt region of the cluster, and most of the brightest IR galaxies are found outside the core region. The IR LF in the NGC 4839 group region does not show any unique characteristics. By integrating the IR LF, we find a total star formation rate in the cluster of about 97.0 M ☉ yr -1 . We also studied the contributions of early- and late-type galaxies to the IR LF. The late-type galaxies dominate the bright end of the LF, and the early-type galaxies, although only making up a small portion (≈15%) of the total IR emission of the cluster, contribute greatly to the number counts of the LF at L IR < 10 43 ergs s -1 .
Source: The Astrophysical Journal
DOI: 10.1086/499620
Authors: Lei Bai, George H. Rieke, Marcia J. Rieke, Joannah L. Hinz, Douglas M. Kelly, Myra Blaylock
Institution: University of Arizona
Language: English
Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W2059518181